IG Working Group Releases Analysis of Substitute Ordinance

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Yesterday evening, after working hours, Ald. Pat O’Connor (40), chair of a working group to tweak an ordinance that would merge the Office of the Legislative Inspector General with the City’s Office of the Inspector General, released an analysis of draft legislation detailing how the changes would work and what proposed new jurisdictions the IG would have. The analysis, mailed to aldermen’s private email addresses, was forwarded to Aldertrack.

The original merger ordinance, sponsored by Ald. Ameya Pawar (47) and Ald. Michele Smith (42) was deferred and published at the January Council meeting. Following the meeting, O’Connor announced he was chairing a working group to “clean up” the ordinance in preparation for the February full City Council meeting, when it would be forced to a simple up or down vote. The chief changes, according to the worksheet are:

IG’s authority does not extend to reviewing, auditing or investigating waste and inefficiency in the City Council’s legislative processes and operations.

The IG receives complaints against CC employees.

Investigation against an alderman can be initiated only by a complaint that (1) names the alderman; (2) states the facts underlying the complaint; and (3) is signed by the person making the complaint. Any city officer or employee may sign such a complaint.

The deferred and published IG ordinance is amended by inserting “whereas” clauses.

The deferred and published IG ordinance is amended by removing a code section amending the OIG’s minimum budget. The minimum budget language is legislated and already included in the code.

The deferred and published IG ordinance is amended by specifying that the IG can investigate alleged violations of Chicago Municipal Code Chapter 2-156 (the Ethics Ordinance), or any other law, order or regulation applicable to aldermen/CC employees’ performance of duties or discharge of responsibilities.

The deferred and published IG ordinance is amended by correcting outdated effective date language.